A ceremony to open the restored memorial fountain at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in Washington, D.C., one of the most important symbols of Ukrainian presence and freedom in the United States, was held in the US capital. Representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, the US National Park Service, and the American administration took part in the ceremony.
This was reported by Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Dr. Kevin Griess, and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, William Kirkland.
The Embassy emphasized that the Taras Shevchenko Memorial has remained an important gathering place for the Ukrainian community and friends of Ukraine in the United States for over six decades.
“For over 60 years, the Taras Shevchenko Memorial has been an important gathering place for Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine in the United States,” the diplomatic mission noted.
The Ukrainian side also thanked the National Park Service and everyone who participated in the restoration work and care for the memorial.
The restoration of the fountain took place as part of the US administration’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative aimed at preserving Washington’s historic sites on the eve of the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Background
The Taras Shevchenko Monument in Washington is one of the most famous Ukrainian memorials outside of Ukraine. The bronze monument, over 7 meters high and weighing about 45 tons, was inaugurated in 1964 with the participation of former US President Dwight Eisenhower.
The US Senate and the US House of Representatives granted permission to construct the monument. Among the initiators of the project were the prominent linguist Yuriy Shevelev and the economist and public figure Lev Dobryansky.
The funds for the construction – about 250 thousand dollars, which is equivalent to over 2 million dollars today – were collected through donations from the Ukrainian diaspora.
The Soviet Union actively opposed the installation of the monument. The USSR Embassy repeatedly sent letters of protest to the US Congress, trying to block the project.
In May 1965, a special stainless steel urn was built at the foot of the monument, which stores the earth brought from the grave of Taras Shevchenko in Kaniv. A “Memorial Book” was also placed in the pedestal with the history of the creation of the monument and a list of over 50 thousand American citizens, mostly of Ukrainian origin, who donated funds for the construction of the memorial.
Historians recall that the grand opening of the monument to Taras Shevchenko was one of the largest events of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States.
Photo: Embassy of Ukraine in the USA.
Author: Inna Mikhno